"We're going to Disney World!" NBA to resume season July 31 at WDW

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,209
We also get Miami and Indiana in the first round but TJ Warren is dealing with plantar fasciitis so the Pacers may be really disadvantaged. If Warren can go, however, Butler will demand to cover him all series. The social media stuff may be almost as good as the games.
 

Sam Ray Not

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
8,848
NYC
The difference between Curry and Lillard is that Curry shoots 43% from three and Dame is around 37%, which is a pretty big difference given the amount of volume those guys shoot. I'd argue that Dame is a more well-rounded basketball player due to being a superior athlete, but Curry's godly percentage combined with his unlimited shooting range is such a massive advantage in the pace-and-space era.
The 3fg% Is probably the most notable difference. Over his career Curry has also been:

• Much better finishing at the rim to 3 ft (.647 to .571 career)
• Better from 3-10 ft (.415 to .335)
• Better from 10-16 ft (.454 to .419)
• Better from 16-3 pt (.454 to .441)
• Better from the stripe (.906 to .889)
• Better at scoring (24.6 to 23.9 pts per 36)
• Better at rebounding (4.7 to 4.1 per 36)
• Better at assisting (6.9 to 6.4 per 36)
• Better at stealing (1.8 to 1.0 per 36)
• Better overall on defense (+0.4 to -0.7 DBPM)

He has also been significantly better and more efficient in the playoffs:

Curry (in 37.8 mpg) 26.5 pts on .609 ts / 5.4 reb / 6.3 ast / 1.6 stl
Lillard (in 40.5 mpg) 24.8 pts on .544 ts / 4.8 reb / 5.9 ast / 1.3 stl

Curry’s just a bit more elite at most of the things Lillard is elite at, and I’d argue the better-rounded basketball player when you look at rebounding and D.

In Lillard’s column... he does fewer boneheaded things — turns it over less and fouls less — and gets himself to the line better. Also, as noted, he’s been significantly more durable over his career, despite typically carrying a heavier minutes load, with fewer high-level teammates to take the pressure off him. Plus at age 30 he’s peaking as we speak, where Curry at 32 may have crested.

In any case, being ~90% peak Curry is nothing to sneeze at. I’d argue he’s entered the conversation for “best small player ever not named Curry” with CP3, Nash, Stockton, and maybe a couple others (you can add Isiah if you must; we don’t have to rehash that conversation, haha).
 
Last edited:

DannyDarwinism

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 7, 2007
4,883
The 3fg% Is probably the most notable difference. Over his career Curry has also been:

• Much better finishing at the rim to 3 ft (.647 to .571 career)
• Better from 3-10 ft (.415 to .335)
• Better from 10-16 ft (.454 to .419)
• Better from 16-3 pt (.454 to .441)
• Better from the stripe (.906 to .889)
• Better at scoring (24.6 to 23.9 pts per 36)
• Better at rebounding (4.7 to 4.1 per 36)
• Better at assisting (6.9 to 6.4 per 36)
• Better at stealing (1.8 to 1.0 per 36)
• Better overall on defense (+0.4 to -0.7 DBPM)

He has also been significantly better and more efficient in the playoffs:

Curry (in 37.8 mpg) 26.5 pts on .609 ts / 5.4 reb / 6.3 ast / 1.6 stl
Lillard (in 40.5 mpg) 24.8 pts on .544 ts / 4.8 reb / 5.9 ast / 1.3 stl

Curry’s just a bit more elite at most of the things Lillard is elite at, and I’d argue the better-rounded player when you look at rebounding and D.

In Lillard’s column... he does fewer boneheaded things — turns it over less and fouls less — and gets himself to the line better. Also, as noted, he’s been significantly more durable over his career, despite typically carrying a heavier minutes load, with fewer high-level teammates to take the pressure off him. Plus at age 30 he’s peaking as we speak, where Curry at 32 may have crested.

In any case, being ~90% peak Curry is nothing to sneeze at. I’d argue he’s entered the conversation for “best small player ever not named Curry” with CP3, Nash, Stockton, and maybe a couple others (you can add Isiah if you must; we don’t have to rehash that conversation, haha).
Good stuff, I agree with all of this.

Dame shot 40% from 3 this year, which, with the difficulty of the shots he’s taking, is crazy. Combined with his great FT rate and shooting, that gave him a 62.4 TS% for the year, which is amazing. It’s also Steph’s career average...

Watching Luka in his 19 assist game from the other night, I was wondering if he’s already the second best offensive player in the league, assuming Harden’s #1, but Lillard probably generates more gravity than anyone playing right now.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,209
Good stuff, I agree with all of this.

Dame shot 40% from 3 this year, which, with the difficulty of the shots he’s taking, is crazy. Combined with his great FT rate and shooting, that gave him a 62.4 TS% for the year, which is amazing. It’s also Steph’s career average...

Watching Luka in his 19 assist game from the other night, I was wondering if he’s already the second best offensive player in the league, assuming Harden’s #1, but Lillard probably generates more gravity than anyone playing right now.
Lillard's gravity was perfectly on display late in the Dallas game where three defenders blitzed Dame at once leaving Nurkic a wide open paint area for an easy layup. He, Harden, Giannis and Tatum are elite defense benders right now. Luka will get there once his shooting improves.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,673
Nurkic is an amazing screen setter; it’s a big reason for Lillard’s success.

Harden had 45-17-9 tonight but Houston loses to Indiana. Westbrook sat, but Indiana has no Sabonis, no Warren and no Brogdan but cobbled together enough offense from Oladipo, Turner and some guy named Edmond Sumner to win.
 

DannyDarwinism

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 7, 2007
4,883
This is fair lol. Nurkic’s screen setting is just really eye catching to me.
Nurk is rugged AF, you have to love it. I think Dame’s just one of the very few who doesn’t need help to get his shot off. With his loyalty, resistance to super teams, toughness, and overall ballerness, Blazers fans must LOVE that dude.
 

DannyDarwinism

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 7, 2007
4,883
You watch Kawhi for a couple of minutes, and it’s immediately clear why his type is the queen of the NBA chessboard- he impacts the game on all three levels, on both ends. The other thing that comes to mind is that Jaylen’s upside is, like, 95% of Kawhi.
 

AMS25

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 29, 2008
3,121
Holland on the Plains
Thunder vs. Rockets is going to be lit. But, it will be less interesting if Westbrook is out. Hope Lu Dort isn't seriously injured (banged his knee last night). Sending healing vibes to Russ and Lu.
 

Sam Ray Not

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
8,848
NYC
Nurk is rugged AF, you have to love it. I think Dame’s just one of the very few who doesn’t need help to get his shot off. With his loyalty, resistance to super teams, toughness, and overall ballerness, Blazers fans must LOVE that dude.
Oh yeah — he's an Orr/Bird/Brady/Papi-level deity in PDX, lack of rings notwithstanding. Only unlike Boston, they only get one pro sport. You should check out Blazers Edge if you haven't; it's the best of the SBN hoops sites, imo, and a great window into the passion, insight, and wit of the Portland fanbase. When SBN gutted the staffs of all the CA-based hoops sites — leaving hollowed out shells where Golden State of Mind, Sactown Royalty, Silver Screen and Roll and Clips Nation were — Blazers Edge stayed its great old self. They still get 1500-2000 posts for a random regular season game thread.
 

amfox1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2003
6,808
The back of your computer
MEM and PHX leading at half. If MEM and PHX both win, SAS will be eliminated and POR will be playing a "win or go home" game.

POR 34-39 (BRK) *
MEM 33-39 (MIL) ** - 0.5 GB
PHX 33-39 (DAL) *** - 0.5 GB
SAS 32-38 (UTA) **** - 0.5 GB

* If POR beats BRK, they will be in the play-in game as the 8th seed. If POR loses to BRK, it will still be in the play-in game if at least two of MEM, PHX and SAS also lose.
** If MEM beats MIL, they will be in the play-in game as the 8th seed if POR loses to BRK or as the 9th seed if POR beats BRK. If MEM loses to MIL, it will still be in the play-in game if PHX and SAS also lose.
***PHX needs to beat DAL and have POR or MEM lose to make the play-in game. If both POR and MEM lose, PHX would be the 8th seed; if only one of POR or MEM loses, PHX would be the 9th seed. If PHX loses or if both POR and MEM win, PHX would be eliminated.
****SAS needs to win vs. UTA and have MEM, POR and PHX lose to be the 8th seed. If SAS wins and two of MEM, POR and PHX lose, SAS would be the 9th seed. If SAS loses or if no more than one of MEM, POR and PHX lose, SAS would be eliminated.
 
Last edited:

jmanny24

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 6, 2003
620
I've been so confused by how the lottery is gonna work. It looks like the play-in is going to come down to Portland. If Mem loses the play-in, does that put them in the lottery? With the pick at 14?
 

amfox1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2003
6,808
The back of your computer
MEM and PHX are both romping in the 2nd half. SAS will be eliminated assuming these results hold. POR will be playing a "win or go home" game vs BRK.

If POR wins, they are the 8th seed and MEM is the 9th seed for the play-in.
If POR loses, they are eliminated, MEM is the 8th seed and PHX is the 9th seed for the play-in.
 

DannyDarwinism

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 7, 2007
4,883
Brooklyn has nothing to play for, so we should see a good dose of their bench tonight. Hopefully the Griz will have to beat Portland twice to get in, but worst case (for Cs fans) is that the red-hot Suns have a crack at Memphis. Fun stuff, all around.
 

amfox1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2003
6,808
The back of your computer
1st round playoff schedule announced.

BOS-PHI

Gm 1 Mon 6:30 ESPN
Gm 2 Wed 6:30 TNT
Gm 3 Fri 6:30 TNT
Gm 4 Sun 1pm ABC
Gm 5 Tue*
Gm 6 Thur*
Gm 7 Sat*

*If necessary, TBA
 

Sam Ray Not

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
8,848
NYC
Spurs out of the playoffs for the first time since... 1996-97. That’s the year before The Last Dance, for anyone keeping score at home.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,305
Dame hasn't been bad, but he needs to take over right now, can't be outscored by Caris Levert in an elimination game.
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,291
Do people talk about Zach Collins like he’s good? I feel like people think he’s good, but he always looks pretty average to me. Tall and mobile and not much else.
 

Sam Ray Not

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
8,848
NYC
Dame hasn't been bad, but he needs to take over right now, can't be outscored by Caris Levert in an elimination game.
He's pretty much doing so. He'll probably finish with ~50. It's tough when your team's D gives up 104 through 3 quarters in a do-or-die game against a team with nothing to play for.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,305
He's pretty much doing so. He'll probably finish with ~50. It's tough when your team's D gives up 104 through 3 quarters in a do-or-die game against a team with nothing to play for.
He is now, when I said that he had I think 22, then he scored like 11 of the next 14
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,291
Has to be Lillard/Nurkic all the way. CJ looks like he’s carrying a piano on his already broken back.